You can excuse some for not knowing that Andre Drummond and Blake Griffin hadn’t already been long-time teammates following last week’s Detroit Pistons victory over the visiting Portland Trail Blazers.
Following Griffin’s trade to the Pistons, he and Drummond have developed a chemistry with each other that has the fans of Detroit excited. The dividends paid off immediately, with Drummond averaging 19.3 points, 19.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 3.3 steals and 2.7 blocks per game, with Griffin averaging 20.0 points, 9.5 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game during their first three together – all Detroit victories.
BONUS CONTENT: After Rosterpocalypse, Pistons eye more than first-round exit
The Detroit Pistons won the NBA trade wars with their recent acquisition of Blake Griffin but they were far from finished wheeling-and-dealing despite a 5-game winning streak, four of which featured their newly-acquired 5-time All-Star. In their latest moves, Detroit sent away both pieces that came with Griffin; Brice Johnson and Willie Reed, for players who can impact the team immediately (both Johnson and Reed were playing in Grand Rapids for the Pistons’ G-League affiliate, Grand Rapids Drive). The Pistons sent Willie Reed down the road to Chicago for Jameer Nelson and sent Brice Johnson and a draft pick down to Memphis for James Ennis.
At the start of the season, the Pistons had a starting unit of Reggie Jackson, Avery Bradley, Stanley Johnson, Tobias Harris, and Andre Drummond. Only Harris and Drummond have been consistent contributors this season. Johnson has been up and down (mostly down but better as of late), Bradley was streaky-at-best before being shipped to Los Angeles for Blake Griffin, and Jackson has been out with an ankle injury for well over a month. With Harris also being shipped out in the package for Griffin, only Drummond is left standing.
Detroit’s roster has seen eight (8!) players shipped away or acquired via trade in this recent flurry with Brice Johnson and Willie Reed each being dealt twice. With such a comprehensive roster overhaul, who and what do we have as a team now?
Click here to read the rest of this article.
